Buying Formal Wear Online

BEFORE YOU ORDER YOUR PROM DRESS OR WEDDING DRESS ONLINE, READ THIS GUIDE AND LEARN HOW TO SPOT A COUNTERFEIT WEBSITE.
Here are the Red Flags to look out for so you can identify a website selling FAKE designer prom & wedding dresses:

1. Price
If the price is too good to be true, it’s a FAKE! This is the most important rule you need to know. The designer determines the price of prom & wedding dresses and every American retailer MUST sell the dress at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). Therefore, if you see a dress on every website and retail store for $298, and then find it on a website for 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% off that price, it is a FAKE dress.
“But the photo of the dress is the same as every other website,” you say? Yep! They steal the designers’ copyrighted images and use them on their websites to sell you a counterfeit prom or wedding dress. This is a dead giveaway that the site is selling counterfeit dresses.

2. Credibility
Most websites have live seals in the bottom of the site that pop up when you hover your mouse over them. These seals verify the site is protected by an SSL certificate or the site has been verified by PayPal as a legitimate business. Counterfeit websites steal these verification seals and place them on their websites, but they are not active. When you hover over them, nothing happens. A real SSL certificate on an ecommerce site is mandatory if you want your credit card information to be secure and protected.
Golden Asp has many third party verifications on the website, including being a member of Top Prom Websites - a consumer advocacy group which independently verifies that we are an established, trusted retailer authorized to sell all the designer brands listed on our website.

3. Contact Information
The website has no address on the “contact us” page or the contact information includes an address outside the US or a non-USA phone number.
Authorized American Prom Dress retailers have their contact information listed clearly and prominently on all pages of their websites, including address, phone number email and “contact us” form.
To verify that the website is an authorized retailer for the designer dress you want to purchase, visit the “Where to Buy” page of the designer’s website. Any retailer listed on the designer’s website is legitimate.

4. Shipping
The shipping info on the Chinese website tells you that they will send the dress to you as a gift to save on shipping costs. What these Chinese factories are really trying to avoid is detection by custom officials for shipping counterfeit goods into the US. They also could get you into a heap of trouble because normally there would be customs and duty taxes that you would have to pay. Avoiding these taxes is a violation of Federal Law.

5. Content
The text on the website is mangled, broken English. Here is an example of a Chinese website selling unsuspecting American teenagers counterfeit designer prom dresses:
We have honored to employ the most experienced designers and tailors in creating every piece of clothing for you according to your marvelous body shape. It not only provides your ideal-made wear as soon as possible, but also can ensure you a best gesture at any occasion.
How long will be the parcel arrived our country?

6. Sales
Remember the first rule? If it sounds too good to be true, it’s a FAKE. If everything on the website is listed as “on sale”, the dresses are counterfeit. American Prom Dress Retailers are not permitted by the genuine designer to discount their dresses.

7. Auctions
If you see a dress on an auction site, please be aware that most American Prom Dress Designers forbid retailers from selling their dresses on auction websites like eBay. The dress is likely a counterfeit.

8. Style Numbers
Often, the style numbers are different than the other American websites where you have seen the dress. Sometimes, there is not even a style number. The real style numbers are created by the authentic prom dress designers and are utilized by all retailers so that we may reference the same dress without confusion.

9. Custom Services
The website offers to custom make the dress for you based on your specific measurements or to customize the dress.
Genuine Prom Dress Designers have specific size charts that they use to construct dresses and they do not make custom dresses for prom. Retailers use the designers’ size charts to help you determine the best size for you.

About Belles and Beaus

Our store is focused on quality service to make your event special. We provide a pleasant atmosphere for you to shop, try on clothes and discuss your future plans. Whether it is a wedding, the prom, or a pageant, we will strive to make your shopping experience a time to remember!

We opened our shop in April, 2013. Our owner, Lori, has been a seamstress for 40 years. We would welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best service in the area.